Grip-finger assembly for labeling machine



M y 6, 1964 s. T. CARTER 3,134,707

GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9', 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

SIDNEY T. CARTER BY ATTORNEYS May 26, 9 s. T. CARTER 3,134,707

GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

SIDNEY T. CARTER BY ATTORNEYS y 1964 s. T. CARTER 3,134,707

GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINE.

Filed Jan. 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5| INVENTOR.

SIDNEY T. CARTER F l G. 6 BY ATTORNEYS May 26, 1964 s. T. CARTER 3,134,707

GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR LABELING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9 1961' 4 sheets-sheet 4 I I F '1 .I

INVENTOR. SIDNEY T. CARTER United States Patent 3,134,707 GRIP-FINGER ASSENIBLY FOR LABELING MACHINE Sidney T. Carter, Shrewsbury, Mass, assignor to Geo. J.

Meyer Manufacturing Co., Cudahy, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Jan. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 81,541 22 Claims. (Cl. 156-493) This invention pertains to labeling machines, and more especially to an improved grip-finger assembly for use in such a machine.

For pressing the usual body or shoulder label into adhering contact with the bottle, the so-called gripfinger which receives the label from the picker and transfers it to the bottle, customarily includes a pad of a stiilly resilient rubber which, while deforming slightly under pressure, is not capable of conforming a single label to a plurality of surfaces of such different types of curvature as the shoulder and neck of a bottle.

Labels have recently been designed which include a narrow mid-portion intended to extend upwardly along the bottle shoulder and wider upper and lower portions, designed to wrap partly about the neck and body, respectively.

The present invention has for an object the provision of an improved grip-finger assembly capable of applying a label such as that just referred to. A further object is to provide a grip-finger assembly operable to apply an elongate label by first applying pressure for. example, rolling pressure, at one end portion of the label and then progressively advancing the pressure point toward the opposite end of the label, thus permitting the application of the label to a surface whose contour varies lengthwise of the label, for instance, a surface having a reverse curvature. A further object is to provide a grip-finger assembly capable of applying a single label designed to extend from the body of the bottle over the shoulder and into contact with the neck. A further object is to provide a grip-finger assembly comprising an elongate pressure applying pad whose label contacting face is normally a plane surface so that it may take a label from a conventional, gum-coated picker, but with means whereby said pad may be fixed so as gradually to conform it to the contour of the bottle shoulder.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary somewhat diagrammatic elevation showing grip-finger assemblies at opposite sides of a conveyor, the right hand grip-finger assembly being shown as on its way from a transfer station, at which it would normally receive a label, to the label applying position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the label applying pad of the right-hand grip-finger assembly as having been conformed to the shoulder portion of the bottle;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the flexible pad illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the pad shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the carrier in which the pressure applying pad is normally housed;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a spring which normally holds the upper part of the flexible pad in the position illustrated in FIG. 1; a

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the spring of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan View of a label of the shape for which the pressure applying pad of FIG. 3 was designed;

3,134,707 Patented May 26, 1964 FIG. 10 is a fragmentary diagrammatic end elevation, partly in section, of a labeling machine of a type in which the present invention may be embodied, showing (in full lines) the picker and grip-finger assembly at the transfer station; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary diagrammatic elevation showing the grip-finger and picker at the transfer station.

Referring to FIG. 10 of the drawings, the character 13 indicates the base portion of the frame of a labeling machine of the kind more fully disclosed in the patent to Carter, No. 2,946,472, dated July 26, 1960, said frame supporting various parts, including bearings for the main shaft S, upon which are mounted cams (not shown) for actuating those elements of the machine which go through a predetermined cycle, once for each rotation of the shaft S, in functioning to apply a label. The machine, only one side of which is shown in FIG. 10, is designed to apply labels simultaneously, if desired to the front and rear sides of an article such as the bottle T, while the bottle is supported by the conveyor W, the latter being driven so as to move the bottle along a predetermined path through the various zones in which successive operations take place. At opposite sides of the machine gum boxes G are arranged (only one appearing in FIG. 10), and in each gum box there is a gum elevating roll E which supplies gum to a corresponding roll E, which is carried by a rocking lever L so as to transfer gum from the elevating roll E to the surface of a picker P of conventional type.

The picker P (FIG. 10), receives a coating of adhesive gum from the transfer roll E while its blades are closed and is then swung so as to contact its gummed surface with the endmost label in the magazine (not here shown). The picker blades then separate while contacting the endmost label in the magazine compartment thereby to spread the gum, and it swings back to the transfer station illustrated in full lines in FIG. 10, its relatively movable blades remaining separated. With the picker blades in this separated condition, and with the end portions only of the label adhered to the respective blades at the transfer station, the label-contacting faces of the blades are disposed in a plane which inclines downwardly and toward the vertical plane through the axis of the bottle T as the latter stands in position to receive the labels. As shown in FIG. 10, the transfer station, represented by the position of the picker P, is spaced a substantial distance from the bottle which is to receive the label. While the picker P dwells in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 10, the grip-finger assembly F (diagrammatically shown in FIG. 10) is moved in a counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 10) so as to contact its label-transfer pad with the label carried by the picker, the grip-finger assembly F then continuing its advance motion, passing between the separated blades of the picker, carrying the gummed labels with it and eventually, pressing the label into contact with those portions of the bottle surface which are to receive it (while the-pickers return for the reception of a fresh coating of gum), the motion of the grip-finger assembly to the left being limited by a stop 8' (FIG. 1).

If the machine is designed to apply labels to the front and rear sides of the same bottle, then a magazine and grip-finger assembly will be arranged at opposite sides of the conveyor path. Even though labels are not to be applied to both sides of the bottle, and a label magazine is arranged at one side only of the conveyor path, grip-finger assemblies are desirably provided at both sides of the conveyor path as here shown, since the gripfinger assembly which does not apply a label then functions usefully as an abutment to prevent tipping of the bottles as the labels are applied.

Each grip-finger assembly F (FIG. 1) is secured at its lower end, to a rock arm M fixed to a shaft K, this shaft being arranged to rock in suitable bearings. Any suitable means, receiving its motion from the main shafts S (FIG. may be employed for imparting movement to the rock shaft, for example, such means as is more fully disclosed in the patent to Sidney T. Carter, No. 2,940,630, dated June 14, 1960.

As here illustrated each grip-finger assembly F is provided with a label applying pad P or P respectively, the pad P being designed to apply a label, such as the label S (FIG. 9) to the shoulder and neck of the bottle. The pad P as herein more fully described, is provided with suction orifices or ports. Suitable means (not here shown), for example, an air pump, and automatically actuating valves, establishes suction at these ports at the proper time in the cycle to enable the pad to take a label from the pickers, the suction at these ports being broken at the proper time in the cycle to permit the pad to leave the label in adhering contact with the bottle while the grip-finger assembly returns to the transfer station. 1

The grip-finger assemblies are here shown as each comprising a base portion (FIGS. 1 and 2), which may be a casting. To the base 20 of each respective assembly F and F an upwardly extending rigid arm is secured. These arms 22 and 23 respectively, partake of the rocking motion of the rock arms M to which the bases 20 are secured.

Each base 20 has spaced bracket arms which have axially aligned bores for the reception of fixed pivot pins 27 and 23 respectively, which defines a fulcrum axis about which may rock the main lever 29 or 29 respectively. A bracket 30 is fixed to the lower end of each of the main levers 29 and 29 and has, adjustably secured thereto, bearing devices 31 having bores for rotatably receiving the pins 27 and 28 respectively, the levers 29 and 29 thus being supported by the respective bases to rock about the axis defined by the pins 27 and 28. Coiled compression springs 43 reacting between parts fixed to the lever arms 29 and 29 respectively, tend to swing said arms relatively in opposite directions, the resultant divergence of the arms being limited by suitable stop elements.

While it is contemplated that the labeling machine may be of the type which is designed to apply labels to opposite sides of the bottle, the apparatus here disclosed by way of example is arranged to apply a label to one side only of the bottle, the grip-finger assembly F at the left-hand side, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, while comprising lever arms corresponding to the lever arms 29 and 29 above described, supports only a simple pad P mounted in a carrier Z fixed to the upper end of the lever arm 29 the pad P functioning merely to steady the bottle while a label is being applied by the pad P The pad carrier Z (FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6) is a box-like structure comprising the parallel, vertical spaced side walls and 51 (FIGS. 5 and 6), each of these side walls having at its outside or right-hand edge, as viewed in FIG. 5, a flange 56 and Ell respectively, disposed at right angles to the side wall, said flanges being arranged in overlapping relation. These overlapping flanges have notches or holes for the reception of a clamping screw whose head 53 seats in a countersink in a block 52 disposed within the carrier and against the flange 50 The shank of the screw passes through a slot in the vertical flange 53 of a pad-retaining spring (FIG. 7), which also has a generally horizontal pad-retaining flange or latch device 54. This spring is of resilient sheet metal and has the vertically elongate slot 53 in its vertical part 53 for the reception of the clamping screw so that the spring may be adjusted vertically before the nut 55 is tightened on the screw. The carrier Z is fixed securely to the upper portion of the main lever arm 29 by means of screws 56 and 57 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The pressure-applying pad P (FIGS. 3 and 4) is of soft, flexible rubber and, as illustrated, comprises the upper and lower thick portions 58 and 59, and the vertically elongate mid-portion 60, the major portion of the part 59 being of a thickness, from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 4, such that when the part 59 is fitted within the carrier Z the face 5% of the part 5% will project but slightly from the open side of the carrier. The lower portion 59 of the pad is fixed within the carrier Z in any suitable manner, for example, by an appropriate cement.

A passage 61, extending through the part 59 of the pad, is connected, by means of a flexible conduit 62 (FIGS. 1 and 2) with a vacuum pump or other source of subatmospheric pressure, it being understood that the vacuum will be created and released at the proper time in the cycle of operation of the machine by mechanism of any suitable type, or such as is customary in the art. As shown in FIG. 3, the passage 61 communicates, at the label contacting face of the pad, with channels 63, 63' and 64, so arranged as to provide suction at the lower portion and upper portion of the pad. The pad as shown, is designed for use in affixing a label of the shape of that shown, for example in FIG. 9, such label having a vertically elongate narrow portion E which is intended to be adhered to the shoulder portion of a bottle, the upper horizontally elongate portion N which is designed to wrap partly about the neck of a bottle, and the horizontally elongate lower portion Y which is designed to wrap partially about the body portion of the bottle immediately below the shoulder.

The upper member 58 of the pad is provided with a vertical bore 65 (FIG. 5), within which there is secured a stud 66 (FIGS. 1 and 2), to which the lower end of a tension spring 67 is connected. The upper end of this spring is secured beneath the head of a screw 68 by means of a nut 69. The threaded shank of this screw engages a threaded bore in the end of the upper portion 70 of the lever arm 22, this upper end being inclined upwardly and to the left as viewed in FIG. 2.

A short distance below the angle where the part 70 of the lever joins the vertical portion of the lever 22, tWo brackets 71, attached to the lever 22, support a pivot member 72 forming a fulcrum for a pad-deforming device 76 comprising two like parallel arms 73 which extend out beyond the lever member 22. To a pin connecting the outer ends of the arms 72 there is connected one end of a tension spring 74 whose opposite end is secured to a pin 75 projecting outwardly from the member 70 of the arm 22. This spring tends to turn the pad-deforming device in a counter-clockwise direction. At the opposite side of the fulcrum 72, the pad-deforming device 76 has arms connected at their left hand ends, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, by a pin which forms a shaft for a roller 77 which turns freely on the shaft. The arms of the pad-deforming device 76 have downwardly directed portions connected by a pin 78, which is engageable by an adjustable stop member 79, thereby to limit turning of the lever in a counterclockwise direction.

At about midway of the length of the lever arm 22, brackets 80 are secured thereto by bolts, and these brackets provide bearings for a shaft 81 forming a pivotal support for an actuator comprising two parallel, like lever arms 32 and 83 which are located at opposite sides of the lever arm 22 and whose free ends are connected by parallel stud shafts 84 and 85 which form pivots for the freely rotatable rolls $6 and 87 respectively. A similar pair of arms, 82, 83, is supported by the lever 23 of the gripfinger assembly F and carry a similar pair of rolls 86 and 87.

In the operation of the device it will be understood that the grip-finger assemblies F and F will be rocked away from and toward each other simultaneously by the action of cams (not shown) on the main shaft S (FIG. 10) and that as the grip-finger assembly F moves away from the conveyor W on which the bottle T is supported while receiving a label, the arm 22 is caused by springs 43, to

diverge from the arm 29 so that, at times, these arms occupy the relative positions shown in FIG. 1, wherein the engagement of the roll 86, carried by the levers 82 and 83, with the arm 29 limits such divergence of the two arms. In this position the undersurface 58 (FIG. 4) of the upper part 58 of the pressure-applying pad P is engaged and releasably retained in position by the smoothly rounded upper bend of the arm 54 of the latch spring (FIG. 6) which is secured to the pad carrier Z as above described, the pad P having been restored to this position, after having applied a label to a bottle, by the action of the tension spring 67. In this position of the label-applying pad, its label-contacting faces 58*, 60 and 59 are in a plane and thus the pad is operative to receive a label from a picker of conventional type, as the pad passes through the transfer station. As the gripfinger assemblies F and F continue to move toward the bottle, the roll 87 of the actuator, comprising the arms 82 and 83, comes into contact with the body portion of the bottle and as the assembly continues to move to the left the actuator is caused to rotate counter-clockwise, about the roll 87 as an axis, and the arm 22 is thereby caused to approach the arm 29. The result of this action is that the lower label-contacting face 59 of the pad P as it approaches the vertical, begins to press the lower part Y of the label E into adhering contact with the upper part of the bottle body. At about this time the roll 77 comes into contact with the narrow midportion 60 of the pad and, by a rolling action, as the grip-finger assembly F approaches the position of FIG. 2, applies force whose point of application progresses upwardly, first pulling the upper part 58 of the pad from beneath the latch spring arm 54, and then conforming the part 60 of the pad to the reverse curvature of the shoulder of the bottle. This motion continues until the entire length of the shoulder portion S of the label is pressed into contact with the shoulder of the bottle, and until the neck-embracing portion N of the label is brought into smooth wrapping contact with the bottle neck. During the application of the label, the bottle is steadied by contact of the pad P with the opposite side of the bottle. As soon as the label has been pressed into contact with the bottle, the grip-finger assemblies begin to move away from each other, thus releasing the bottle so that it may continue along the path provided by the conveyor W.

By this simple arrangement it is possible not only to roll an elongate narrow label into adhering contact with a bottle shoulder, but also to apply a single label to parts having such unlike curvatures as the body, shoulder and neck of a bottle.

While one type of label has herein been illustrated by way of example, it is obvious that labels of other shapes may be applied by the mechanism herein described (but by the use of pressure-applying pads of correspondingly different shapes) so as to conform and firmly to adhere them to surfaces of different curvatures. It is further contemplated that similar apparatus, according to the general mode of construction and operation of the device herein specifically disclosed, may be found useful for applying elongate labels especially narrow vertically elongate labels, by a progressive rolling action, not only to the shoulder of a bottle but also to other parts of a bottle or other article.

Many of the details of the labeling machine as a whole have been omitted from the present disclosure but reference may be had to the Carter Patent No. 2,946,472, dated July 26, 1960, for further details, it being noted, however, that the apparatus of said patent is designed specifically for use in a machine in which the labels are applied to the bottles while the latter are moving uninterruptedly along by the conveyor, whereas, the apparatus of the present invention is applicable, not only to a machine of that type, but also a machine to which the bottles are moved intermittently by the conveyor and the label is applied while the bottle stands' stationary at a dwell point.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has herein been disclosed by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications and equivalents falling within the terms of the appended claims.

, I claim:

1. In combination in a machine for applying a vertically elongate label to a reversely curved surface of a bottle, said machine being of the kind which includes a support for a bottle to be labeled and wherein a gum-coated picker removes a label from a supply and carries it to a transfer station, and transfer means comprising a rock arm and a grip-finger assembly fixed to the rock arm, said assembly comprising a label-pad carrier, a vertically elongate, flexible pad mounted in the carrier and attached to the carrier at its lower portion only, said pad being of a size and contour approximat'mg that of the label to be applied and having a suction port in its label-contacting face, means for rocking the grip-finger assembly to transfer a label from the transfer station to a label-applying position, and means operative, as the grip-finger assembly approaches the label-applying position, to apply rolling pressure thereby to bend the flexible pad longitudinally to a reverse curvature corresponding to that of the part of the bottle to which the label is to be applied.

2. A grip-finger assembly comprising a vertically elongate, fiexible, pressure-applying pad having a label-contacting face, spring means normally operative to maintain said label-contacting face as a substantially plane surface thereby to permit it to receive a label from a conventional flat-blade picker, and means operative so to apply rolling pressure to the rear side of said pad that its label-contacting face becomes longitudinally curved.

3. A grip-finger assembly comprising a vertically elongate, flexible pressure-applying pad having a label-contacting face and a suction port in said face, means stressing said pad longitudinally thereby to maintain said labelcontacting face as a substantially plane surface thereby to permit it to receive a label from a conventional picker, a movable support for the pad, and means operative to apply rolling pressure to the rear side of the pad in such a way as to bend the pad so that the label-contacting face of the pad becomes reversely curved longitudinally of the pad.

4. A grip-finger assembly comprising a vertically elongate, flexible pressure-applying suction pad having a labelcontacting face, means normally operative to maintain said label-contacting face as a substantially plane surface thereby to permit it to receive a label from a conventional fiat-blade picker, and means for applying rolling pressure to the rear side of the pad commencing at a predetermined point and progressing from that point longitudinally of the pad.

5. A grip-finger assembly comprising a vertically elongate flexible pressure-applying suction pad having a label-contacting face, means normally operative to maintain said label-contacting face as a substantially plane surface thereby to permit it to receive a label from a conventional picker, means for moving the pad while in upright position thereby to contact the lower part only of a label carried by the pad, with the upper part of the body of a bottle, and means operative thereafter to apply rolling pressure thereby to bend the pad longitudinally to a reverse curvature thereby to conform the label to the vertical contour of the shoulder portion of the bottle.

6. In combination, in a labeling machine, a grip-finger assembly comprising an elongate, flexible, pressure-applying suction pad having a label-contacting face, means normally so stressing the pad that all parts of said face normally lie in the same plane, and force-applying means operative to apply rolling pressure whereby said face may be curved longitudinally to a reverse curvature.

7. In combination, in a labeling machine, apparatus for applying an elongate label to the shoulder portion of a bottle, said applying means comprising a vertically elongate, flexible suction pad, and means operative first to bring the lower end portion of said pad into label-contacting relation to the bottle adjacent to the junction of the shoulder and body of the bottle and thereafter to apply rolling pressure so to bend the pad as to bring the remainder of the pad into label-contacting relation with the shoulder of the bottle by successive increments progressively toward the other end of the pad.

8. In combination, in a labeling machine, apparatus for affixing an elongate narrow label to a bottle in such a way that the longer dimension of the label extends up and down, said apparatus comprising an elongate, flexible suction pad having a label-contacting face of a shape and size approximately like those of the label and all of whose parts normally lie in the same plane, and means for applying rolling pressure to the rear face of said pad, commencing near one end and progressing toward the opposite end, thereby to conform the label-contacting face of the pad to the vertical contour of the bottle surface to which the label is to be adhered.

9. In combination, in a labeling machine, apparatus for applying a vertically elongate narrow label to a bottle in such a way that the longer dimension of the label extends up and down, said apparatus comprising a pressureapplying roller, and means for so actuating said roller that rolling pressure is first applied to the label near its lower end for adhering said lower end to the article, and the point of application of pressure is then advanced, by successive increments, lengthwise of the label until the entire label is adhered to the bottle.

10. In combination, in a labeling machine, a rigid pressure pad carrier open at one side, an elongate flexible pressure-applying pad having a label-contacting face, one end of the pad being permanently housed within the carrier with its label-contacting face exposed at the open side of the carrier, a tension spring secured to the other end of the pad and which tends to maintain the major portion of the pad in a normal position within the carrier such that all parts of its label-contacting face lie in the same plane, and pad-deforming means operative so to apply rolling pressure to the rear face of the pad as to cause the label-contacting face of the pad to assume a reverse curvature.

11. In combination in a labeling machine, means for supporting an article to be labeled, a grip-finger assembly of the kind which comprises a rocker, an upwardly directed, pad-actuating lever arm fixed to the rocker, an upwardly directed pad-supporting lever arm pivotally attached to the rocker, resilient means normally holding said arms in diverging relation, a pressure pad carrier secured to the pad-supporting arm, a vertically elongate, flexible pressure pad having a label-contacting face and a suction port in said face, one end of said pad being permanently housed within the carrier, a latch device normally but releasably holding the other end of the pad within the carrier with all parts of the label-contacting face disposed in substantially the same plane, and means for applying rolling pressure to the rear side of the pressure pad thereby to cause its label-contacting face to become curved longitudinally.

12. The combination according to claim 11, having means on the label-actuating lever so supporting said roller that, as the lever arms approach, said roll engages the pad and moves progressively, while in contact with the pad, longitudinally of the latter.

13. The combination according to claim 11, further characterized in having means operative automatically, as the rocker causes the arms to retreat from label-applying position, to restore the upper portion of the pad to its normal position without the carrier.

14. The combination according to claim 11, further characterized in having means attached to the actuating arm which, by contact with the article to be labeled as the arms move toward label-applying position, causes the arms to approach and thereby operate the roller.

15. The combination according to claim 11, further characterized in that a lever, pivotally mounted on the pad-actuating arm, carries the roller which, as the arms move toward label-applying position, contacts the rear surface of the pad and progressively conforms the labelcontacting face of the pad to the surface of the article being labeled.

16. The combination according to claim 11, including a lever pivotally connected to the pad-actuating lever arm, and resilient means normally holding said lever in a position such, that as the grip-finger assembly approaches the label-applying position, the roller first contacts the pad at a point intermediate the ends of the latter.

17. The combination according to claim 11, further characterized in having a tension spring, secured to the upper end of the pressure pad which tends normally to restore the upper part of the pad to its normal position within the pad carrier where all parts of its label-contacting face lie in substantially the same plane.

18. The combination according to claim 11, further characterized in that the pad-retaining spring has an upwardly bent latch portion which, by frictional engagement with a normally horizontal surface of the pad, opposes removal of the upper part of the pad from the carrier.

19. The combination according to claim 11, wherein a lever, pivotally attached to the pad-actuating lever arm carries a roll which, at times, engages the pad-supporting lever arm, and thereby limits divergence of said arms.

20. The combination according to claim 11, further characterized in that said lever carries a second roll which, by contact with the article to be labeled, causes the two lever arms to approach.

21. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a second grip-finger at the opposite side of the conveyor from that which carries the labelapplying pad, said second grip-finger having a bottle steadying pad, and means whereby both grip-fingers move toward and from the bottle simultaneously.

22. The combination according to claim 11, further characterized in that the pad-carrier has an interior chamber open at the side toward the conveyor path, means permanently fixing one end portion of the pad within said chamber, and friction means normally retaining the opposite end portion of the pad within said chamber but permitting said latter end portion to be ejected from the chamber by the application of suificient pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,969 Besemer May 25, 1943 2,808,955 Sherrington Oct. 8, 1957 2,946,472 Carter July 26, 1960 

1. IN COMBINATION IN A MACHINE FOR APPLYING A VERTICALLY ELONGATE LABEL TO A REVERSELY CURVED SURFACE OF A BOTTLE, SAID MACHINE BEING OF THE KIND WHICH INCLUDES A SUPPORT FOR A BOTTLE TO BE LABELED AND WHEREIN A GUM-COATED PICKER REMOVES A LABEL FROM A SUPPLY AND CARRIES IT TO A TRANSFER STATION, AND TRANSFER MEANS COMPRISING A ROCK ARM AND A GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY FIXED TO THE ROCK ARM, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LABEL-PAD CARRIER, A VERTICALLY ELONGATE, FLEXIBLE PAD MOUNTED IN THE CARRIER AND ATTACHED TO THE CARRIER AT ITS LOWER PORTION ONLY, SAID PAD BEING OF A SIZE AND CONTOUR APPROXIMATING THAT OF THE LABEL TO BE APPLIED AND HAVING A SUCTION PORT IN ITS LABEL-CONTACTING FACE MEANS FOR ROCKING THE GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY TO TRANSFER A LABEL FROM THE TRANSFER STATION TO A LABEL-APPLYING POSITION, AND MEANS OPERATIVE, AS THE GRIP-FINGER ASSEMBLY APPROACHES THE LABEL-APPLYING POSITION, TO APPLY ROLLING PRESSURE THEREBY TO BEND THE FLEXIBLE PAD LONGITUDINALLY TO A REVERSE CURVATURE CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF THE PART OF THE BOTTLE TO WHICH THE LABEL IS TO BE APPLIED. 